Detachable handle device

ABSTRACT

A DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR TOOL, FLOOR SCRUBBER, VACUUM CLEANER, SWEEPER OR OTHER DEVICE, WHICH HANDLE MAY BE MOVED FREELY AND EFFECTIVELY WHEN IN ITS INSTALLED PODITION, YET WHICH CAN BE READILY MOVED OR THEREAFTER REINSTALLED WITHOUT THE MANIPULATION OF PINS OR LEVERS, OR THE INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF SCREWS OR OTHER FASTENING DEVICES.

1971 WILBUR-WEBB SELLEY ETAL 3,621,511

DETACHABLE HANDLE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1969 INVENTOR E E L F L F i w. E H m R A win m W R Nov. 23, 9 WILBURWEBB SELLEY ETAL 3,621,511

DETACHABLE HANDLE DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILBUR'WEBB SELLEY RICHARD H. SC-HAFFEQ United States Patent 3,621,511 DETACHABLE HANDLE DEVICE Wilbur-Webb Selley, 130 N. Lake Sybelia Drive, Maitland, Fla. 32751, and Richard H. Schalfer, 854 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Fla. 32804 Filed Feb. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 801,611 Int. Cl. 1362b 3/02 U.S. Cl. 16-114 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A detachable handle for a tool, floor scrubber, vacuum cleaner, sweeper or other device, which handle may be moved freely and effectively when in its installed position, yet which can be readily removed or thereafter reinstalled without the manipulation of pins or levers, or the installation or removal of screws or other fastening devices.

REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTION This invention is closely based upon our parent application entitled, Improved Vacuum Cleaner and Power Unit, filed June 20, 1968, Ser. No. 738,595.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention pertains to a handle arrangement for a tool or other device normally equipped with a handle, and more particularly to a handle arrangement such that the user can readily insert or remove the handle, yet be able to freely manipulate it when in the installed position.

(2)' Description of the prior art A number of removable handle arrangements have been taught by the prior art, but in all known instances these arrangements have been sufficiently diflicult and cumbersome to use as to discourage the user from making frequent use of the opportunity to remove the handle. It is well known that most vacuum cleaners or other floor devices utilize handles which can in fact be removed from the machine, but normally these are held in place by the use of screws, bolts, or pins. Obviously, the average user does not want to go to the trouble to locate the tools necessary to remove the handle, and then possibly have to apply a considerable amount of strength, so he or she will typically transport the machine to a remote location, even involving carrying it in an automobile, without bothering to remove the handle, even though to do so at times would be quite advantageous.

Some devices are equipped with fastening means in the nature of a thumb bolt, but these arrangements become worn in use and in time need to be. tightened by the use of pliers or the like, which brings back the original problem sought to be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION This invention teaches the use of an easily removable handle involving one or more insertion members, which members are adapted to be received in a corresponding number of receiving members. Typically, the insertion member or members are equipped with a slot, and the receiving member or members equipped with a pin at Patented Nov. 23, 1971 ice an internal location corresponding to the position of the slot, the arrangement being such so that when the handle has been properly inserted, the slots and pins line up, thus normally preventing a removal of the handle. Spring means are provided tending to bias the slotted portion of the insertion members into close contact with the pins so that one can lift or move the machine or device by the handle without undesirable separation taking place. However, the arrangement is such that the bias of the spring or springs can easily be overcome as a result of a particular motion, and the pin and slot arrangement caused to separate so that removal of the handle can be accomplished. This is brought about by designing the handle arrangement such that a. forward movement of the handle after it is in its uppermost position causes the insertion members to pivot about upper locations on the receiving members and as a result of this arrangement, the insertion members move to overcome the bias of the spring means, and thus enable the slots to move free of the pins. Thus, to remove the handle, the user places the handle in the upright position, then moves it sufficiently forward so as to overcome the springs, and then lifts the handle. free.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a handle which can be rapidly and readily installed upon a tool or machine, which will not come loose in an undesirable manner, but yet which may be rapidly removed at such time' as the user so desires.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handle for a machine or the like which can be moved freely and effectively, which does not require any tools for its attachment, and which requires no manipulation of any devices in order to obtain its release from the equipment.

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from a study of the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our handle. in its installed position on a vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view to a larger scale, with mating handle components disposed in disassembled relation;

FIG. 3 is a side-view revealing in full lines a lower portion of our handle when in a normal operative position, and revealing in phantom lines the position to which the handle is moved when removal from the machine is desired;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the principal components just before the insertion members of the handle are inserted in the receptacle members;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the components in the interfitted position; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing the tilted position of the handle. so that ready removal from the receptacle mem bers may be effected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to FIG. 1 it wil1 be noted that we have shown the handle 14 in operative position on the wheeled motor unit 11 of a vacuum cleaner, although we may of course use our novel handle arrangement on a wide variety of devices. Also visible in this figure are the handle receiving members 69, and one slot 15 of a pair of slots in which the members 69 are movable when the handle is to be moved by the user to various operative positions. The reader will immediately note a similarity of this figure to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 of our aforementioned parent patent application.

Turning to FIG. 2 of the instant invention, it will be noted that we have shown in this enlarged perspective view a typical insertion member 68, which is designed to be inserted into its respective receiving member 69. It is to be understood that there may be two members 68 and two members 69 in the event the bifurcated type construction shown in FIG. 1 is utilized, but it also should be understood that We are not necessarily so limited, and a single pair of members 68 and 69 may be effectively used in the construction of other handle utilizations and embodiments in accordance with our invention.

Each insertion member 68 is designed to have angled or sloped surfaces 68a and 68b, which configuration facilitates its insertion into the member 69, as will perhaps be more apparent from a study of FIG. 4. Slot 71 is provided on the member 68 on the side opposite the longer slanted surface 68b, which slot is so placed as to substantially coincide with the placement of the pin 72 disposed in the member 69. The length of this pin 72 is best indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing and the interfitting positions of the slot and pin are best indicated in FIG. 5. Note also FIGS. 13 and 14 of our parent case.

A spring 73 such as a type of leaf-spring is mounted such as by a screw or the like upon the lower portion 69b of the member 69, this member being equipped with a mounting hole 69c enabling it to be pivotally mounted to the machine or tool in the general manner shown in FIG. 3, such as by means of a pin 69d visible in FIG. 3. The member 69 can freely rotate about the pin 69d, the type of rotation involved of course being indicated in FIG. 3. One or more springs such as tension springs 76 may be provided to normally bias the handle 14 to the upright position.

The leaf-spring 73 is of construction and curvature such that it contacts the surface 68b when the member 68 is being installed, and normally biases this member into such a position that the pin 72 and slot 71 closely interfit in the desired manner when the insertion procedure has been accomplished. The lower edge 71a of the slot is hooked to such an extent that even if the user picks up the machine by the handle, the member 68 does not pull out, but rather remains normally in the position shown in FIG. 5, in which the pin 72 eifectively prevents the removal of the member 68, and the spring 73 biases the member 68 in the direction inhibiting separation of pin and slot.

When the user desires to remove the handle, he moves it to the upright position shown in FIG. 3 in phantom lines, so that the upper forward portion of the members 69 are in contact with stop members 11a of the Wheeled motor unit. This member 11a effectively prevents further forward movement of the receiving member 69, so that if the user continues to move the handle member 14 further forward, he or she will bring about the arrangement or condition illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the upper end of the member 68 pivots about the point 74 of member 69, with the lower angled surface 68b then pressing against the spring 73 and moving it to the position shown in FIG. 6. The lower or hooked portion 71a of the slot 71 then comes free of the pin 72 so that the handle 14 may be removed by lifting it vertically upward. Thus, the handle is removed without the utilization of any tools or the manipulation of any pins or levers of any kind.

Reinsertion of the handle is achieved by repeating the procedure discussed in conjunction with FIG. 4, wherein the insertion means 68 are inserted into the mating means 69 to a sufiicient depth that the slot 71 and pin 72 can interfit as shown in FIG. 5. It should be noted that the contour at 68a makes it possible for the lower portion of the insertion means 68 to be easily moved past the pin 72, with the spring bias means 73 of course moving momentarily to a position close to that shown in FIG. 6 in order for the means 68 to get by, then returning to the position shown in FIG. 5 to bring about locking action. Once the intenfitting relation'is achieved, the spring bias means 73 serves to hold the slot 71 closely around the pin 72 until such time as the handle 14 is again moved to the forwardmost position indicated in- FIG. 3, and tilting action brought about in the direction of the arrow depicted in FIG. 6, so that pivoting about the point 74 takes place, and the slot can move free of the pin.

We claim:

1. An implement handle arrangement comprising a handle upon the lower portion of which, an insertion member is contained, and a receiving member having a recess therein for receiving said insertion member, means for removably locking said insertion member in said receiving member when said members have been interfitted, said insertion member being somewhat smaller than the recess provided in said receiving member, but being retained in the locked condition therein by bias means arranged to act against said insertion member, said receiving member being pivotally mounted, with stop means being provided against which said receiving member can reside when said handle has been moved a certain extent in a given direction, said handle upon being moved further in the same direction causing a pivoting of said insertion member with respect to said receiving member, thus to cause said insertion member to move in a bias overcoming direction such that the locked condition can be overcome, thus enabling said handle to be removed without the use of tools.

2. An elongated, removable handle for a power unit or the like, movable over a substantial arc of travel, said handle having an insertion means at its lower end, arranged to bev releasably secured in mating means on the unit without the necessity of pins or screws, said insertion means having means thereon which can inter-fit with means in said mating means, thus to achieve a locking together of said insertion means and said mating means, spring bias means acting in a direction such as normally to prevent an unlocking of said insertion means and said mating means, said spring bias being overcome and an unlocking of said insertion means and mating means being achieved by a movement of said handle past a certain rotative position, said mating means being pivotally mounted, and stop means against which said mating means can reside when said handle has been moved a certain extent in a given direction, said handle upon being moved further in the same direction causing a pivoting of said insertion means with respect to said mating means, thus to cause said insertion means to move in a bias overcoming direction such that the locked condition can be overcome, thus enabling said handle to be removed without the use of tools.

3. The removable handle as defined in claim 2 in which said insertion means includes a pair of members, arranged to be received by a pair of mating means.

4. :In a handle arrangement for a power unit or the like, means on one end of said handle configured to be inserted into an interfitting relationship with means on the unit that is to be equipped with a handle, the first mentioned means being equipped with a locking contour thereon, and the second mentioned means having a contour-receiving portion, such that when said first and second mentioned means have been interfited, a locking together is achieved, bias means arranged to act in a direction such as to inhibit and prevent a separation of said first mentioned and second mentioned means, by preventing relative rotative movement, said second mentioned means being pivotally mounted, with stop means being provided against which said second mentioned means can reside when said handle has been moved a certain extent in a given direction, said handle upon being moved further in the same direction causing a pivoting of said first mentioned means with respect to said second mentioned means, thus to cause said first mentioned means to move in a bias overcoming direction such that the locked con- 6 dition can be overcome, thus enabling said handle to be 3,203,707 8/1965 Anderson 280-47.37 removed without the use of tools. 3,308,516 3/1967 Mullan 24--201 HP 5. The handle arrangement as defined in claim 4 in which said first mentioned means and said second men- FOREIGN PATENTS tioned means each include a pair of members. 5 756,091 12/1933 France 24230 BC References Cited BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner UNITED STAT PAT P. A. ASCHENBRENNER, Assistant Examiner 2,396,747 3/1946 Parrott 287-119 2,884,672 5/1959 Tracy 24-230 3,037,308 6/1962 Miller 280-47.37 X 0 

